Rock the Vote’s Heather Smith

The Green Guru, League of Conservation Voter’s Gene Karpinski, stood at the podium to kick off an event on the West Lawn of the capitol this morning, rallying the crowd for clean energy jobs now.

In front of a group of the clean energy and climate movement’s biggest leaders, Karpinski harkened back to 40 years ago, the first year of Earth Day and said that despite the many victories that we have had, a major one remains.

The “big enchilada”, was how Denis Hayes, Earth Day director and part of the original day some 40 years ago put it. He talked about all of the accomplishments, but said we, along with generations after us, will look back on our success around the 40th Earth Day.

A comprehensive clean energy and climate bill is the only thing that will be make this Earth Day and celebration. Said Hayes: “It’s time to get angry. It’s time to say that if you’re not right on climate, you’ll be out of office.”

Hayes was preceded at the podium by Karpinski, Truman National Security Project COO Jon Powers and several others. Three are of particular note, however.

Head of the Washington chapter of the ACLU, Hilary Shelton, gave an impassioned speech about getting ourselves out of this paradigm of joblessness in our communities and bringing together coalitions that are unprecedented in the movement. Just seeing Shelton, along with the familiar face of the Hip Hop Caucus’ Rev. Lennox Yearwood speaks to how broad the support for clean energy is today.

Green Guru Gene Karpinski signs the declaration.

Rev. Yearwood was his usual self, of course. He told the crowd that future generations are counting on us. He renewed his call, saying this fight is about humanity. One of the most inspiring speakers in the movement, Rev. Yearwood said that there are no petty divisions on this issue. The future of our country, our health, our way of life is at stake.

However, it was a youth leader that stepped up to the podium that really put this into perspective. She was very frank: “this issue affects our generation more than any other.”

Heather Smith, Executive Director of Rock the Vote, looked into the crowd to say that the youth of this country have taken notice and we don’t like what we see. We are engaged, we are voting, we have a voice. And we better, since this is our future.

When the talking was done, the speakers all signed a declaration, calling for Clean Energy Patriots to start an Earth Day Revolution and pass comprehensive legislation.

Forty years ago, Earth Day because reality, providing momentum for decades of environmental policy. Now we stand in the face of our greatest environmental challenge, something with fingerprints all over our economy and national security.

In this we cannot fail. For this, we need a revolution.

DJ Biz Markie kicks off the Clean Energy Now! event on Capitol Hill

The Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now! Tour rolled into Washington on Tuesday, but put on a show Wednesday, with DJ Biz Markie and a diverse group of onlookers puttin’ down for clean energy. With Biz Markie on the turntables, Rev. Lennox Yearwood built the moment, inspiring those in attendance by saying this is our cause; it is the cause of humanity.

Check out what Repower America, co-sponsor, had to say:

“Give light and people will find the way.” This quote by Ella Baker, civil rights leader and youth activist, sums up the last day of the Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now! Bus tour. Baker mentored young civil rights stalwarts like Diane Nash, Stokely Carmichael, Rosa Parks and Bob Moses. Today, she would be proud as the new generation of activists rallied behind the need for clean energy jobs and their right to economic equality in our nation’s capital.

Rev. Yearwood unites the crowd.

Imagine it. After touring the nation and meeting with young people in urban communities all along the way, the Hip Hop Caucus’ Clean Energy Now! Bus Tour brought its message of clean energy solutions to the steps of the Capitol Building for a closing rally. The event began with music from DJ Biz Markie. His classic beats were heard around the Capitol while hip hop echoed off of our nation’s government buildings. As Biz began, a bus full of Howard University students marched up to the rally with Clean Energy Now! signs and took their place on the stage as one of the nation’s leading universities.

The program began with youth activists, Kari Fulton from EJCC, Liz Starke, student activist from Michigan State University, and William Kellibrew who represented the Black Youth Vote. Together, these students amplified the diversity of today’s youth movement and the importance of a clean energy economy for their future prosperity.

Reverend Yearwood moderated the rally and introduced Administrator Lisa Jackson, who jumped right into the importance of a clean energy economy to protect our air and provide clean water to all communities across the country, especially for young people and future generations. “The tour has been across the country listening to young voices calling for good jobs, lower energy costs and cleaner communities,” said Jackson. “This is the time to seize global leadership in clean energy innovation and answer the young people and urban communities who are asking for clean energy now.” Signs were raised, young people were cheering, and Washington was listening.

Following Administrator Jackson, movement leaders like Gary Flowers, Congressman Andre Carson, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO of Green For All, and actress Gloria Reuben took the stage to explain how protecting the climate can help us to take back our streets by creating new businesses and regenerating the urban economy. Maggie Fox, CEO of the Alliance for Climate Protection, amplified the importance of showing the diversity of this movement to Washington. “It is clear that our young people and communities of color will benefit greatly from the economic opportunities that come from investing in clean energy,” said Fox.

Today, the message was clear in Washington. WE MUST ACT NOW! The clean energy movement is about taking control of our future and bringing opportunity to our communities. Millions of our friends and neighbors are out of work. Washington has the opportunity to create 1.9 million new jobs and rebuild our economy from the ground up by making a commitment to clean energy here in America. The Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now! Bus Tour was a light that illuminated monumental economic opportunity across the country. So, hats off to our civil rights predecessors, it is now our turn to carry the torch towards a victory in Washington.